Veet

Veet

Veet logo
Launch year 1922 (Trademark)
Company Reckitt Benckiser
Availability Yes
Current supplier Reckitt Benckiser

Veet, formerly called Neet and Immac, is a current trademark of chemical depilatory internationally sold products manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser.[1] Hair removal creams, mousses and gels, and waxes are produced under this brand. It has previously created similar products under the names Neet and Immac.

Veet's hair removal products contain thioglycolic acid and potassium hydroxide. These ingredients react to generate the depilatory chemical potassium thioglycolate, which according to the company, increases hair loss. The effect is to break the disulfide bonds of the keratin molecules in hair.[2] This reduces the tensile strength of the keratin so greatly that the hair can be wiped away.

Product history

Previously called "Neet," the hair removal product was manufactured by Hannibal Pharmaceutical Company and registered as a US trademark in 1919 in Canada[3] and in 1922 in the US.[4][5] The trademark for Neet was then picked up by the American Home Products Corporation in 1958. Neet was then transferred to its current holder, Reckitt Benckiser (then called Reckitt & Colman (Overseas) Ltd.).[4]

The Veet name was established in 1922 in the UK.[6] The name was used in some European countries, but was not used universally. For example, while the product was sold as Veet in France,[7] the product was sold in Canada and the United States as Neet until 2002, when the Veet name was first used commercially in those countries.[8]

Advertising

Veet was advertised in the 1920s (then known as Neet) as a product that was "faster than shaving," was called "the ready to use hair removing cream," and was initially sold for about fifty cents in the US. [9]

More recent advertising campaigns have used university students as spokespersons for their products[10] political commentary, such as the "No More Bush" ads after the 2008 United States Presidential Election.[11]

Some advertising from Veet has been controversial. A test website for the product in France offended some online users by claiming that the product was "good for the pussy."[12] A representative of Veet addressed the situation stating, "We wanted to create an ad campaign that was a bit humorous and offbeat...we didn't want to shock, but we're not the experts on that." The manager reported there were several complaints about the website, and it was summarily taken down so as not to "tarnish the brand's image."[13]

In April 2014, Veet released a number of controversial commercials. These were poorly received across social media, drawing wide criticism for their unkind depiction of unshaven women as being masculine.[14][15]

References

  1. ↑ "Veet". Reckitt Benckhiser. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  2. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". Veet. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "CANADIAN TRADE-MARK DATA - Neet". Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Neet Trademark". United States Patent and Trademark Office.
  5. ↑ "Neet Registration Certificate". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  6. ↑ "Case details for Trade Mark 428725 A". UK Intellectual Property Office. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  7. ↑ April, Mo. "The 1950s-ad for Veet depilatory". Flickr. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  8. ↑ "TARR Status of Veet". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  9. ↑ Melange, CharmaineZoe (1925). "Vintage Advertisement for Neet". Flickr. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Veet gives valuable tips on hair removal techniques". The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia). 8 March 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  11. ↑ "Veet celebrates no more Bush". UTalkMarketing.com. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  12. ↑ Misfits, Anais (3 May 2011). ""MonMinouToutDoux.com" de Veet, Natachatte passe le teste du matou..." (in French). Anais' Misfits. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  13. ↑ "French pussycat waxing ad outrages". SkyNews.com.au. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  14. ↑ Peppers, Margot (8 April 2014). "'Don't risk dudeness!' New Veet ads branded 'sexist' for suggesting women are manly if they don't wax their body hair". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  15. ↑ Higbee, Jonathan. "Veet Pulls Controversial Ad Labeled As Homophobic, Transphobic". Instinct Magazine.com. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
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